2008 SATURN ASTRA ESP

Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width.
For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates
to the system developed by
the United States National
Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear,
traction, and temperature
performance. This applies only
to vehicles sold in the United
States. The grades are moldedon the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform
Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep
tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver, or temporary
use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or
to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary
with respect to these grades,
they must also conform to
federal safety requirements and
additional General Motors
Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on
a specied government test
course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the
government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart signicantly from the
norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices,
and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
9-56 Vehicle Service and Care
ProCarManuals.com

Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest
to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the
tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on
specied government test
surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
{WARNING
The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not
include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are
A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance
to the generation of heat and
its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to
a level of performance which
all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal MotorVehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
{WARNING
The temperature grade
for this tire is established
for a tire that is properly
inated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed,
underination, or excessive
loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible
tire failure.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-57
ProCarManuals.com

Tire Changing
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while you are driving, especially if
you maintain your vehicle’s tires
properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire creates
a drag that pulls the vehicle toward
that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel rmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then
gently brake to a stop well out of the
traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction you
would use in a skid. In any rear
blowout remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle
under control by steering theway you want the vehicle to go.
It may be very bumpy and noisy, but
you can still steer. Gently brake to
a stop, well off the road if possible.
{CAUTION
Lifting a vehicle and getting
under it to do maintenance or
repairs is dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided
with your vehicle is designed
only for changing a at tire. If it
is used for anything else, you or
others could be badly injured or
killed if the vehicle slips off the
jack. Use the jack provided with
your vehicle only for changing a
at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part
shows how to use the jacking
equipment to change a at tire
safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on the
hazard warning ashers.
{CAUTION
Changing a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over or fall
on you or other people. You and
they could be badly injured or
even killed. Find a level place
to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from
moving:
1. Set the parking brake
rmly.
2. Put an automatic
transmission shift lever in
P (Park), or shift a manual
transmission to 1 (First) or
R (Reverse).
(Continued)
9-60 Vehicle Service and Care
ProCarManuals.com

Who is Covered?
Roadside Assistance coverage is for
the vehicle operator, regardless of
ownership. In Canada, a person
driving this vehicle without the
consent of the owner is not eligible
for coverage.
Services Provided
The following services are provided
in the U.S. and Canada up to
5 years/100,000 miles (160 000 km),
whichever comes rst, and, in
Canada only, up to a maximum
of $100.
Fuel Delivery:Delivery of enough
fuel for the vehicle to get to
the nearest service station
(approximately $5 Canada).
In Canada, service to provide
diesel may be restricted. For
safety reasons, propane and
other alternative fuels are not
provided through this service.
Lock-Out Service:Lock-out
service is covered at no charge if
you are unable to gain entry into
your vehicle. A remote unlock
may be available if you have an
active OnStar
®subscription.
To ensure security, the driver
must present personal
identication before lock-out
service is provided. In Canada,
the vehicle registration is also
required.
Emergency Tow From a Public
Roadway or Highway:Tow to
the nearest Saturn retailer for
warranty service or in the event
of a vehicle-disabling crash.
Winch-out assistance is provided
when the vehicle is mired in sand,
mud, or snow.
Flat Tire Change:Installation of a
spare tire in good condition, when
equipped and properly inated,
is covered at no charge.The customer is responsible for
the repair or replacement of the
tire if not covered by a
warrantable failure.
Jump Start:A battery jump start
is covered at no charge if the
vehicle does not start.
Trip Routing Service (Canada
Only):Upon request, Roadside
Assistance will send you detailed,
computer personalized maps,
highlighting your choice of either
the most direct route or the most
scenic route to your destination,
anywhere in North America, along
with helpful travel information
pertaining to your trip.
Please allow three weeks before
your planned departure date.
Trip routing requests are limited
to six per calendar year.
11-6 Customer Information
ProCarManuals.com

Trip Interruption Benets and
Assistance (Canada Only):In
the event of a warranty related
vehicle disablement, while en
route and over 250 kilometres
from the original point of
departure, you might qualify
for trip interruption expense
assistance. This assistance
covers reasonable reimbursement
of up to a maximum of $500
(Canadian) for (A) meals
(maximum of $50/day), (B)
lodging (maximum of $100/night),
and (C) alternate ground
transportation (maximum of
$40/day). This benet is to assist
you with some of the unplanned
expense you may incur while
waiting for your vehicle to be
repaired.
Pre-authorization, original
detailed receipts, and a copy of
the repair order are required.Once authorization has been
given, your advisor will help
you make any necessary
arrangements and explain how
to claim for trip interruption
expense assistance.
Alternative Service (Canada
Only):There could be times
when Roadside Assistance
cannot provide timely assistance.
Your advisor may authorize
you to secure local emergency
road service, and you will be
reimbursed up to $100 upon
submission of the original receipt
to Roadside Assistance.
In many instances, mechanical
failures may be covered. However,
any cost for parts and labor for
non-warranty repairs are the
responsibility of the driver.
Saturn and General Motors of
Canada Limited reserve the right to
limit services or reimbursement to anowner or driver when, in their sole
discretion, the claims become
excessive in frequency or type of
occurrence.
Calling for Assistance
For prompt and efficient assistance
when calling, please provide the
following to the Roadside Assistance
Representatives:
Your name, home address, and
home telephone number
Telephone number of your
location
Location of the vehicle
Model, year, color, and license
plate number of the vehicle
Odometer reading, Vehicle
Identication Number (VIN) and
delivery date of the vehicle
Description of the problem
Customer Information 11-7
ProCarManuals.com

Transportation Options
Warranty service can generally
be completed while you wait.
However, if you are unable to wait,
Saturn helps to minimize your
inconvenience by providing several
transportation options. Depending on
the circumstances, your retailer can
offer you one of the following:
Shuttle Service
Shuttle service is the preferred
means of offering Courtesy
Transportation. Retailers may
provide you with shuttle service to
get you to your destination with
minimal interruption of your daily
schedule. This includes one-way or
round trip shuttle service within
reasonable time and distance
parameters of the retailer’s area.Public Transportation or Fuel
Reimbursement
If your vehicle requires overnight
warranty repairs, and public
transportation is used instead of
the retailer’s shuttle service, the
expense must be supported by
original receipts and can only be up
to the maximum amount allowed by
Saturn for shuttle service. In addition,
for U.S. customers, should you
arrange transportation through
a friend or relative, limited
reimbursement for reasonable
fuel expenses may be available.
Claim amounts should reect actual
costs and be supported by original
receipts. See your retailer for
information regarding the allowance
amounts for reimbursement of fuel
or other transportation costs.Courtesy Rental Vehicle
Your retailer may arrange to provide
you with a courtesy rental vehicle or
reimburse you for a rental vehicle
that you obtain if your vehicle is kept
for an overnight warranty repair.
Rental reimbursement will be limited
and must be supported by original
receipts. This requires that you sign
and complete a rental agreement
and meet state/provincial, local, and
rental vehicle provider requirements.
Requirements vary and may include
minimum age requirements,
insurance coverage, credit card,
etc. You are responsible for fuel
usage charges and may also be
responsible for taxes, levies, usage
fees, excessive mileage, or rental
usage beyond the completion of the
repair.
It may not be possible to provide a
like-vehicle as a courtesy rental.
Customer Information 11-9
ProCarManuals.com

If you need roadside assistance,
call GM Roadside Assistance.
SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 11-5for more
information.
If your vehicle cannot be driven,
know where the towing service
will be taking it. Get a card from
the tow truck operator or write
down the driver’s name, the
service’s name, and the phone
number.
Remove any valuables from your
vehicle before it is towed away.
Make sure this includes your
insurance information and
registration if you keep these
items in your vehicle.
Gather the important information
you will need from the other
driver. Things like name, address,
phone number, driver’s license
number, vehicle license plate,
vehicle make, model and model
year, Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN), insurancecompany and policy number, and
a general description of the
damage to the other vehicle.
If possible, call your insurance
company from the scene of the
crash. They will walk you through
the information they will need. If
they ask for a police report, phone
or go to the police department
headquarters the next day and
you can get a copy of the report
for a nominal fee. In some
states/provinces with “no fault”
insurance laws, a report may not
be necessary. This is especially
true if there are no injuries and
both vehicles are drivable.
Choose a reputable collision
repair facility for your vehicle.
Whether you select a dealer/
retailer or a private collision repair
facility to x the damage, make
sure you are comfortable with
them. Remember, you will have to
feel comfortable with their work for
a long time.
Once you have an estimate, read
it carefully and make sure you
understand what work will be
performed on your vehicle. If you
have a question, ask for an
explanation. Reputable shops
welcome this opportunity.
Managing the Vehicle Damage
Repair Process
In the event that your vehicle
requires damage repairs, GM
recommends that you take an
active role in its repair. If you have
a pre-determined repair facility of
choice, take your vehicle there, or
have it towed there. Specify to the
facility that any required replacement
collision parts be original equipment
parts, either new Genuine GM parts
or recycled original GM parts.
Remember, recycled parts will not
be covered by your GM vehicle
warranty.
11-12 Customer Information
ProCarManuals.com

Saturn will not access this data or
share it with others except: with the
consent of the vehicle owner or,
if the vehicle is leased, with the
consent of the lessee; in response
to an official request of police or
similar government office; as part
of Saturn’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process; or,
as required by law. Data that Saturn
collects or receives may also be
used for Saturn research needs or
may be made available to others for
research purposes, where a need is
shown and the data is not tied to a
specic vehicle or vehicle owner.OnStar®
If your vehicle has OnStar and you
subscribe to the OnStar services,
please refer to the OnStar
Terms and Conditions for
information on data collection and
use. See alsoOnStar
®System
on page 4-38in this manual
for more information.
Navigation System
If your vehicle has a navigation
system, use of the system may
result in the storage of destinations,
addresses, telephone numbers, and
other trip information. Refer to the
navigation system operating manual
for information on stored data and for
deletion instructions.
Radio Frequency
Identication (RFID)
RFID technology is used in some
vehicles for functions such as
tire pressure monitoring and ignition
system security, as well as in
connection with conveniences such
as key fobs for remote door
locking/unlocking and starting, and
in-vehicle transmitters for garage
door openers. RFID technology in
Saturn vehicles does not use
or record personal information or
link with any other Saturn system
containing personal information.
Customer Information 11-17
ProCarManuals.com